"Should've known your love was a game."

"Now I can't get you out of my brain."

Sitting on the couch, pretending to watch tv, I digged the tequila bottle into my mouth, sipping on it as hard as I could while my head became dizzier and my vision blurred out.

I was too drunk that night, unaware of anything related to existence, except that one guy who kept twirling in my mind like an annoying bug.

As I took another huge sip of the tequila, I heard footsteps of a blurred figure just about to sit next to me.

I took a deep look at it, realizing it was that red headed guy. Marcus.

"Didn't notice you here." I said, raising my eyebrows with a grin at him.

He knitted his eyebrows, glancing at the tequila bottle. "Where did you get that?!"

I let out a giggle, then I leaned closer to him and whispered. "I snuck into Mikhail's bedroom..."

"Really?!" he said, eyes widened with shock as I nodded.

"I kept searching for the gift he brought me so that I could burn it out before he would give it to me." I murmured with frustration, then a smirk was shown on my face as I held the tequila bottle with pride. "But instead, I found this."

"Oh.." Marcus nodded, confusedly. "Why did you want to burn the gift he brought you?"

"Because he's a fucking jerk." I curled my lips with disgust, taking another sip. "Pathetic parasite creature."

I kept cursing at Mikhail, while Marcus sat there, mouth wide opened and jaw dropped as I heard him giggling.

"What did he do to you?" he asked with a curious stare as he leaned closer to me.

I silently looked back at him for a moment.

"He's just annoying." I said, again taking another sip of the tequila. "I hate him."

Marcus's eyebrows were raised in shock, he snatched the bottle from my hand and spilled a shot for himself.

"If you hate him, then I hate him, too." he nodded, looking at me as he raised his shot. "Cheers." he said, and drank the whole shot at once.

I raised the bottle at him and drank most of it, as well.

My head was hurting way too much, I groaned slightly as I rested my head on the couch.

Blankly staring at the television, I thought about the way Mikhail shared kisses with that girl.

It seemed too passionate. Craving.

Rage was a too weak description compared to how I was feeling.

"Why can't he love me instead?" I pouted, exhaustingly drained from the way I constantly asked myself that question.

"Huh?" Marcus froze for a moment, staring at me.

"Mikhail." I mentioned, worn out as my eyes were barely able to open. "He chose that blonde, but he never chose me."

"He did?" Marcus questioned, blankly staring at the television as though I surprised him with what I said.

"Am I not enough?" I questioned, pouting into his direction. "Answer honestly."

"You are more than enough." he said, giving me a frustrated smile that was supposed to cheer the both of us.

"Thanks, step bro." My pout turned to a warm smile, resting my head and closing my eyes. "You look very attractive today."

And with a soft chuckle from him, I instantly fell asleep, as my body felt tiredly numb.

...

"Eve." The soft tone of his voice called out for me.

I was in deep sleep, his voice echoed in my head several times. I felt his warm fingers touching my forehead as it tucked my hair behind my ear, leaving me with heated goosebumps.

As I slowly opened my eyes, I found him kneeling in front of the couch I was sleeping on with a smile.

I closed my eyes back again and mumbled. "The parasite is back."

He chuckled a bit, ruffling his hair. "You shouldn't have drank that."

"No one to blame but yourself." I murmured, digging my head into the pillow, wanting to feel its warmth.

"Lets get you to bed." he said, getting up as he gently grabbed my shoulders.

I frowned at him and shook my head, unable to keep my eyes opened from how drowsy I was.

"Come on, love." he softly said as he gently leaned closer, picking me up. "It's the first time for you to get that drunk."

I exhaustingly wrapped my arms around his neck as I rested on his chest, feeling the warmth and the assurance that I've always been craving from him, especially the moment I met Liam after work and was terribly afraid from getting hurt again.

"God, I needed that so much." I murmured, nuzzling into his neck with a satisfying smile.

"Needed what?" he questioned.

"Your hug." I admitted, tightly gripping on his white chemise.
"It feels like home."

For a moment, he stood his place and never spoke a word. Then he started climbing up the stairs, heading to my bedroom.

He gently put me on bed, covering me with a blanket as he made sure I wouldn't get cold.

I felt his eyes gazing me with comfort.
He stroked my hair and then caressed my cheek. "Next time you need to feel like home, don't hesitate to ask for it." I heard him say, but was too worn out to react.

He turned off the lights and closed the door behind him.

...

Next morning, I woke up later than usual. I took a shower and put on some decent clothes. I combed my hair and made it into a bun.

I went downstairs to the kitchen, finding Marcus and Mikhail having breakfast.

"Morning to our lazy drunk head." Marcus said, grinning at me.

"Please don't call me that." I pursed my lips and narrowed my eyes, taking a seat between them.

"Coffee?" Mikhail asked, holding the hot cup as he offered it to me. "I'm sure you need one after drinking my tequila bottle."

"Not because it was in your bedroom does mean it's yours." I smiled, taking the cup from him and sipping on it. "But thanks."

He shook his head with a chuckle. I was grateful that he didn't get mad from what I did the other night. He seemed to be totally cool with it, or at least pretended.

Nervously looking down, I tapped the cup with my long nails. "Listen guys, did anything embarrassing came from me last night?"

I wasn't sure what I remembered from that night was a short dream or factual reality, I just hoped it wasn't that embarrassing for anyone.

"Oh, you really don't remember?" Marcus whispered playfully, raising his eyebrows at me as he took a glance at Mikhail. "You said a lot of shit back then."

I pressed my lips, ashamed of what I could have done.

Mikhail looked at me, confused. "You don't remember anything?"

"Not specifically." I denied, "Did I do something bad?"

He chuckled, eyes showing hurt and sorrow. "Don't worry about it."

...

After breakfast, I went back to my bedroom and prepared to go shopping with Adriano so that we could buy a nice dress and an elegant tux for the masquerade party that was just after few hours.

I wore a white short dress, combed my hair and made it loose with a white sortet ribbon.

As I went downstairs, I found Marcus resting on the couch and playing video games.

The moment he noticed my presence, a wide grin was suddenly shown on his face. "Where's the beautiful going?!"

I smiled at his compliment as I sat next to him. "Shopping for tonight's party." I excitedly said, taking a bite of the red cherry that it's plate was placed on the table.

"You've found a date already?" he questioned, raising his eyebrows in curiosity, but I knew that curiosity would only lead to disappointment the moment I tell him who I was going with.

Because I deeply knew that he wanted me to go with Mikhail.

"Of course, I did." I claimed, legs resting on one another with pride as I raised up my chin, earning a chuckle from Marcus.

"Who's the lucky guy?" he asked, excitedly.

But I only pursed my lips, unable to look him in the eyes. "Adriano.."

Suddenly his grin disappeared, I could only see his mouth wide opened. "Seriously?"

"I think he likes me. He cares for me too much. So why not give it a shot?" I questioned, as though knowing that he cared for me would have relieved me in a way.

But guess what,

It didn't.

"I mean, it seems like he cares for you." he said, twitching his mouth a bit. "But do you actually trust him?!"

"What do you mean?" I asked with confusion. "Isn't he your friend?"

He looked away for a moment, and shrugged. "Do we always have to trust our friends?"

"What's that coming from?" I suspiciously narrowed my eyes at him.

"Adriano always acts nice only until he gets what he wants." he claimed, and I cleared my throat, folding my arms. "What I'm saying is that, you should take care."

I couldn't understand what Marcus was planning on. I didn't know if he was trying to make me feel afraid of going into a relationship with Adriano because he wanted me to be with Mikhail, or because Adriano was actually dangerous and untrustworthy.

But one thing I knew was that,

I should definitely take care.

"I will." I nodded, pressing on my lips as I got up and carried my purse with me. "When Adriano's ready, tell him I'm waiting in his car."

He nodded at me. I took another red cherry and ate it as I waved him goodbye.

Once I got out of the mansion, I heard Mikhail's footsteps as he called out for me.

I turned to look at him. He was wearing an olive shirt and black trousers. Both his hands were behind his back, as though he was hiding something from me. He carried a soft smile, taking few steps closer to me.

"Having plans?" he asked, glancing at my white dress as I couldn't focus on anything but his soft golden hair that kept ruffling with the wind and his rosy cheeks that showed how enthusiastic he was at that moment.

For a moment, I blankly blinked at him, until I came back to reality. "Yeah, actually- I'm going shopping for the party." I said, pointing at the car with nervousness.

"I don't think you would need that anymore.." he said, slowly shaking his head and looking down the ground, unable to meet my gaze as though he he had a secret.

I tilted my head with confusion. "Why?!"

For a moment it was silent, I could feel him gradually staring at my lips, until his gaze finally reached my eyes. My body was shivering with impatience, painfully wanting him to spit out whatever was on his mind

But that never seemed to happen, because we were cut off by Adriano.

"You ready, Evelyn?!" Adriano asked, looking at me with a grin, not even noticing Mikhail's presence.

"Yeah." I mumbled, gently kicking the ground with my foot in disappointment.

Mikhail then glared at Adriano with irritation. "You're also going with her?"

"Of course I am." Adriano arrogantly opened his chest, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. "How could I not choose my tux with the help of my stunning date?"

The moment he announced that, Mikhail raised his brows with despite. "Well, have fun with that." he sneered, taking few steps back from me.

"Did you have something to tell me?!" I curiously blurted out before he could leave us both standing.

He looked back at me with frustration and then shook his head. "No, I was just checking."

As he went inside the mansion, Adriano opened the car's door for me to get in.

Let me say that I was terribly curious about what Mikhail wanted to tell me, but couldn't.

...

One hour was left for the masquerade party to begin, me and Adriano had just came back from shopping. He bought a black tux and a silver bauta, mask while I bought a long red pleated gown, golden heals and a golden colombina mask.

Marcus and Mikhail were nowhere to be found, I quickly climbed the stairs to my bedroom so that I could get dressed. I put on full make up and let my hair loose with a bun from the center of my back head.

Once we arrived at Don's mansion, two body guards rushed to open the car's door for us. I could hear a beautiful melody echoing from the ballroom. Delicate couples with elegant costumes wandered up the stairs, carrying a gracious smile that beamed their faces.

Adriano offered me his arm to hold with a satisfying grin, I held his arm and we proceeded to enter the mansion.

That moment reminded me of the first party I attended with Mikhail, we were holding each other's arms, as we deceived people by our fake relationship.

Sometimes my sick thoughts believed that we could have actually became a thing, but later have I realized it was all just a twisted game, that we both played fairly.

Wandering the mansion, my eyes caught Marcus standing next to Don. He was wearing a white tux and a white zanni mask that I couldn't help but laugh at.

Next to them was Mikhail and that irritating blonde girl who I never knew her name. She was wearing a black satin gown, silver heels and a silver volto mask. While he wore a black tux, with a black ribbon and a silver colombina mask that almost looked as similar as mine.

As we reached to them, I gave Marcus a truthful grin. "You look miraculous."

He smiled, playfully bowing. "We learn from the best."

Don then gave me a grin that seemed quite evil as he bowed and placed his lips on the top of my hand, making me shiver with disgust as I was barely able to hold my vomit.

"You look absolutely stunning." he complimented, looking at me. "Enjoying my party?"

"It doesn't matter if I am." I shook my head with a proud smile. "The most important thing is if the one who the party is made for is actually enjoying." I stated, staring at Mikhail with bold eyes.

"I couldn't be more happier." he gave me a smirk that I was hundred percent sure was fake as he raised his glass of champagne, wrapping his arm around the blonde girl's waist, grabbing her closer to his side.

My mouth was hurting from the way I kept gritting my teeth together. He really did get on my nerves. And I knew he meant to do that on purpose.

I gave an unbothered glance on the blonde girl, wanting to know her actual name. "Aren't you gonna introduce us?!" I questioned, raising my chin at Mikhail.

"It's Isabelle." I heard her say, giving me a smile as she stretched her hand to shake mine. "Nice to meet you!"

I nodded, faking a smile as I shook her hand as well.

She didn't seem mean at all. She actually looked confident and beautiful.

But not next to him.

"Isabelle, this is Eve." Mikhail said, looking at me. "Marcus's step sister."

Oh, not that fuckery fuck again. Can't he just be honest for once?

"No way! You two are like the sweetest siblings I've ever seen!" she excitedly grinned, "You even got the same eye shape!"

"That's not true." I mumbled, glancing at Marcus's eyes, finding him curling his lips with irritation.

I was too curious to know what was between her and Mikhail. They seemed to be close for a long time.

Were they dating in secret or what?

"So how long do you guys know each other?" I curiously asked, titling my head at them.

Mikhail kept being silent. Gazing at me with gelid yet burning eyes. It sent shivers down my spine every time I caught him analyzing me, it's like he was studying my body language with every word that came out of my mouth.

I wouldn't underestimate that from an FBI agent.

"I've known him for a really good time." she smiled, glancing at his lips up to his jade eyes. "We used to hang out a lot."

I nodded, hardly able to avoid biting the bottom of my cheeks from how furious I was.

"Lets go have a glass of champagne." I whispered to Adriano, grabbing him away from them as we headed to the buffet table.

I snatched a glass of champagne from the waiter and drank all of it at once.

I let out a heavy breath, as Adriano took the glass for me. "This is the only glass of champagne you're having today." he chuckled, placing the glass on the table.

"Well, don't blame me if I acted aggressively." I blurted out, folding my arms as I glanced at Mikhail and Isabelle from afar.

I then found Adriano narrowing his eyes with confusion.

I took a look at him, not wanting to ruin the night. "I have social anxiety."

He chuckled, looking down then up at me. "Who doesn't?" he held my hand, grabbing me for a dance.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head on his chest. "Just focus on the things that makes you happy." he said, placing both his hands on my waist. "That's when you know you're not anxious anymore."

A truthful smile was unintentionally shown on my lips.

I looked up at him, glad that he was my date to the party. "You're one of them."

...

Two hours passed since we arrived to the party. Mikhail and Isabelle were dancing and drinking champagne with each other while everyone complimented them for being a glorious couple.

Glorious. My Ass.

Adriano stood with Don and kept talking for hours, while I was left there on the table, trying my best not to drink another glass of champagne as I listened to old women gossip about how their husbands wouldn't let them go to a road trip together because they were too busy with work.

The party was too lame to be described. Sure, it was decent and luxurious. But what's the glory of parties if it doesn't bring fun?

I suddenly heard a bottle of wine harshly popping beside my ears. I frightenedly sprung up from the loud noise. Turning my head back, I realized it was Marcus just teasing me.

"Why would you even do that?!" I frowned at him, finding him laughing so hard that I couldn't help but laugh as well.

He took a seat on the table next to me. "You know women who usually sit alone most of the time tend to be stolen from men way too easily." he said, placing the bottle and his zanni mask on the table.

"That's total bullshit!" I grinned at him, chuckling.

He went silent. Then he agreed with me and nodded the moment he realized what he said was completely dumb.

"But seriously, why are you sitting alone?!" he questioned, as he spilled two glasses of wine for both of us. "You're not having fun?"

"I don't know how to have fun." I admitted, twitching my lips. "I'm always bored and depressed."

He gave me the glass of wine as he glanced at Adriano, and then at Mikhail who was literally giggling with Isabelle.

He sighed then looked back at me. "You have fun by doing things that makes you happy."

I took a sip of the wine and then blankly stared at the floor. "I don't know what makes me happy."

"What makes you happy is definitely a chaotic company who's willing to have fun." he said as he got up, grabbing my hand and the wine bottle with him. "Bring those with you, we're probably gonna need them." he pointed his fingers at the glasses on the table.

"Where are we going?" I asked, stuttering.

"We're going to create some chaos." he playfully smirked, putting on his zanni mask.

_______

[Whelve] (v.) : to bury something deep; to hide.

...

Do you think Evelyn made a mistake accepting Adriano to be her date?

Do you think Mikhail's dating Isabelle or they're just platonic friends?

Don't forget to vote and comment!

xoxo 💋